By Odeisel
Fizzyology is the merging of M.O.P’s Lil Fame and St. Da Squad/1982’s Termanology into a hardcore duo. Their self-titled album is a work that brings out the best of Lil Fame and finds Termanology finding a new level of flow. The album began as a Fame-produced vehicle for Term, but after Fame ended up hopping on all the hooks and dropping verses they decided to go all in. The result is comfort food for hardcore aficionados that appreciate melody.
Fizzy Womack (Fame) is one of the most underrated Hip-Hop producers ever. While many attributed classic M.O.P. track “Cold As Ice” to DJ Premier, it was Lil Fame on the track. He shines on this album with compositions like the buttery smooth Anita Baker sample on “Pray For Me,” one of the aural highlights of the album. The juxtaposition of hardcore dead homieism over the smoothest of R&B tracks is all but necessary in your life. Another angelic but hardcore creation is the Bun B assisted “Hustler’s Ringtone,” with its airy undercurrent and strong delivery.
The gully factor is also a strong point of the album. Opening salvo “After Midnight” hits hard and fast with a murderous distorted grizzle and hard drums that bring out the best in Term. His voice carries a smooth, slightly raspy cadence that chills. Key-punctuated “Fizzyology” has a Scooby Doo spooky ambiance to go with haunting piano deep keystrokes paced by the same sample from Ross’ “Pirates.”
Neither Fame nor Term is unafraid of sharing their lives on wax. “Family Ties” reveals intimate details of their childhoods including abuse, violence, the addiction of family members and the survivor’s twinkle in your eye when you realize that all of that madness didn’t stop you. Guests get busy on the album from Freeway on the riotous “From The Streets” to the Busta Rhymes/ Styles P banger “Play Dirty which also features the best DJ Premier beat in years.
Unfortunately there are times when Termanology’s delusions of grandeur short circuit that album. His multiple self-comparisons to Rakim are occasionally too much to take seriously. There is also disjunction on some of the harder tracks that overpower his smoother voice. The album is album a couple songs too long. There is no wackness, but there is a little fat around the middle.
Fizzyology is a win in that there are well put together songs and a few surprises. Both rappers have their high points and the album is well sequenced if a couple songs too long. It probably would have been better as an M.O.P. album but as a complete work it has all the makings of an album you’ll bump for a while.
Out of 5
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